Facts About Renting Medical Equipment

By Lila Bryant


With the shrinking margins in the practice of medical services, the individuals and institutions engaged are becoming heavily concerned. This is, to a great extent, contributed by the high cost of investment, particularly in acquiring the sophisticated machines and tools entailed. The high initial investment is just out of proportion, coupled with their high rate of depreciation and obsolescence. Yet to be able to offer the most attractive and satisfactory services to clients, some tools are indispensable. It is due to this reason that there is a paradigm shift towards renting medical equipment.

One can rent a wide variety of these instruments. Some of the tools you can rent include surgical implements, MRI machines, EMR software, computers, X-ray and ultrasound machines, imaging and diagnostic instruments, surgery tables among others. However, before embarking on this agreement, it is important to consider some vital factors, as illustrated below.

Be sure to begin with evaluations of a rent vs. Buy decision. Analyze the two alternatives in order to reach the most beneficial and efficient decision. Compare the price of buying the item against various lease quotes available, while considering different manufacturers, dealers and leasing companies.

A good supply of information is important for a complete financial analysis. You should therefore access the most vital and pertinent financial information before embarking on the analysis. The data will be helpful in assessing the feasibility of the particular project, which can only be arrived at by estimating the cash flow of the investment. The incremental cash flow denotes the additional expenses and revenues accruing from the project. It is from this cash flow that one can know how a particular project will better the performance of the business, which is contrary to a rather unidirectional approach as to whether a particular project will generate profit on its own.

The comparison should however not stop here. Further analyze the data with a break even analysis, a net present value analysis and a payback value analysis. With these analyses, you are furnished with both the short and long term financial implications of the particular investment. It also denotes the duration of time it will take to recoup the initial investment.

However, the cost of renting depends to a great extent on the rate of the lease and the periodic payments. As such, carry out and evaluation of the factors affecting the periodic payments and the lease rate. For example, the period of the lease has a profound impact on the terms and the amount of charges associated. Clearly spell out the duration of your lease.

Another element worth considering is the schedule of service (repair). During the period of rent, the user is responsible for maintenance of the item. It is therefore essential to opt for a deal having a fair number of services, coupled with convenient service time. For example, on-site servicing proves rather convenient. The type of lease, whether operating or capital, also determines the amount of monthly payments. Operating leases are less expensive than capital leases, they are entirely rental agreements. On the other hand, Capital leases entail residual ownership of the item.

Simply put, the decision process whether to rent or buy a medical equipment relies more on ascertaining which option will be more beneficial to your practice; the bottom line; evaluate how the investment fits with your general business plan, compare it to alternative opportunities in your practice and determine whether it will be profitable on its own while improving the present and future overall financial performance of your practice.




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